Summary: Defeated, Nuada must now abide by the principles and regulation of the BPRD. Frustration and urgency soon thrust him into encountering a woman with an awesome ability. Alternate Universe Hellboy II.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rating: T

Chapter Four

Susanna Grey sat on the kitchen counter stirring a cup of the hot cocoa and placing a Drakes Coffee cake on a plate. It was late...close to two o'clock in the morning. On these rare occasions, she would take this time (when sleep refused to come) to steal into the massive kitchen of the BPRD and raid the cupboard for any morsel of food that would not undo her morning.

All was silent. Except for a selected crew of agents mining the wheels of security, hardly anyone was roaming the halls. It had been quiet at the BPRD. So, it was rather a surprise to see the Elven princess glide into the large food prep area at this time of night.

Letting out a startled cry in surprise, Nuala froze mid-step; a slim, white hand on her chest as though to still her racing heart. She wore a sky blue, airy night gown that rested just above her small white feet. Susanna squirmed in her sweat pants and white tank…feeling somewhat frumpy compared to the elegant princess.

However, Nuala's white hair, normally sleek and perfectly combed, was in wild tousles. Susanna suppressed a giggle knowing the elf maiden had been necking with Abraham earlier, which would explain the dark bruise on her neck.

The pair stared at each other and Nuala looked as though she might turn and flee the kitchen. Somberly, Susanna recalled how she had behaved...cold and violently angry almost...and felt bad about it. She didn't know what was becoming of her. She was never this nasty or temperamental...well...sometimes...but not to strangers.

"Hot chocolate?"

Nuala's brows crinkled, "I beg your pardon?"

Susanna lifted her cup in a gesture of display. "Hot chocolate, it's a drink, my specialty," she repeated again, hoping to smooth things over between them. "Would you care for some?"

"That would be lovely," Nuala answered with a single nod of the head and went to where Susanna sat high on the counter. Susanna jumped down and retrieved another coffee mug and began to pour a mixture of milk, cream, chocolate, sweetener, and a special blend of vanilla and nutmeg. She rotated and handed the cup to the princess.

Princess Nuala accepted the cup with a gracious smile. Seating herself on a chair beside a table, she blew the steam away before taking her first sip of the mocha drink. "Mmm, delicious," she said, smacking her lips and quivering as the hot liquid warmed her insides.

"Best with a bit of baked sweet goodness," Susanna commented cajolingly and slid a box of coffee cake to her. "Try one," to which Nuala did and with sheer delight, after a taste, devoured the sugary treat.

They ate and drank in contented silence until finally Susanna spoke, "I'm sorry." Nuala's eyebrows arched together, widening her illuminating amber colored eyes all the more. The confused look nearly a smirk to break on Susanna's face. "I didn't mean to be so rude…" she released a sigh, shaking her head. "The other night…my head wasn't on straight."

"You have just returned from seeing my brother."

"Yes—your brother—" Susanna said dryly, finishing off the rest of her hot chocolate as if it were a shot of Whiskey. She rose and discarded the Drake's Coffee cake box in the trash. Her back to the princess she silently prayed, hoping Nuala wouldn't bring up her speculations that she might be somewhat attracted to her odious sibling. Astonishingly, the Elvin princess began to relate on other matters.

"He still will not receive me," Nuala lowered the mug to her lap, eyes melancholy. "He will not even speak to me. I—the only family he has remaining."

"He doesn't speak to anyone...berate is a better terminology," Susanna replied going to the sink to wash her mug and setting it on the rack to dry. She took the elf maiden's to rinse and put away.

"He is enraged by my relationship with Abraham. He says I have betrayed our people…that I have betrayed him."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say your brother has a twisted thing for you."

When no reply came from Nuala at such a vile insinuation Susanna felt her skin prickle in revulsion. She peered over her shoulder and saw the princess lower her head. Was it shame? Guilt? Susanna blinked and drew in a breath, not realizing she'd been holding hers in for such a long period.

"I believe it is part of the reason why our father has always kept us separated." She gradually lifted her eyes to meet the Susanna. "It is not what you think. We have always shared...a bond...since the hour of our birth. Our connection…until recently…has confused many. They are sometimes disturbed by the bond we share. Does it trouble you?"

"No!" Susanna blurted out unintentionally, and raked a hand through her long blond hair. Hell, she didn't know what to say after that. Of course she heard of numerous cases on twins that shared a psychic bond. She'd watched investigative reports on the Discovery Channel. But what bothered was the fleeting sense of... She exhaled for she did not know what she felt and did not want to know.

Unexpectedly, she became uncomfortable and felt Nuala's distress rolling off her body in waves. "I think its best we turn in for the night."

Nuala nodded in agreement. "Yes," she whispered. "Of course, you are right." Hands clasped in front of her, head bowed, she walked to the door, and then turned around. "I enjoyed the drink and cake, thank you."

Susanna gave her a pleasant smile and watched the princess fade down the hall. She remained in the kitchen alone, ill at ease, torn by the knowledge now rotating in her head. She pressed her fingertips to her head, wincing almost to a headache barely below the surface, but slowly coming into being.

Turning out the lights, she headed down the hall in the opposite direction. To reasons beyond her comprehension she found herself outside Prince Nuada's detention chamber and in a feverish pace tapped the security code on the panel beside the massive doors. The gears churned and squeaked as the doors parted. She entered the chamber, wildly on the defensive, searching the inner sanctum.

()()()()

The visions returned. Memories forged from long ago slithered to forefront. The soft lines of a mouth and azure eyes thrust Prince Nuada out another restless sleep. The statuesque image of a princess cocooned in marble tomb renewed his fervent hatred of humans. He rose suddenly, unfolding his long powerful legs to plant them on the floor and rise out of bed.

He found no solace in sleep, only the vile recollection that the kingdom that was destined to be his by birth and blood was torn asunder. His people scattered to the live in darkness and misery and he a perpetual prisoner. He plucked his spear from off its resting place, held the cold silver for a singular before gliding into a series of leaps, and twirls across the chamber. His prison.

Again a woman forever poised in stone lay bathing in a pool of moonlight flickered into his mind driving the rage within him to unprecedented heights. His nerves tightened and his muscles quivered. His breath came in quick pants and his heart pounded mercilessly in chest as Nuada battled against imaginary enemies. The humans who had claimed the life of his beloved wife.

()()()()

Suzanna located him in the center of his gilded chamber. Handsome, strong, virile, the upper portion of his body was coated in a sheen of sweat as he maneuvered through vigorous drills. She marked the numerous scars along his chest and upper arms; evidence of the many battles he wage and fought. As if sensing her presence, he stopped short, his back to her. He flipped his spear and pressed it to his side.

"I had no desire to you again?" He said, a sneer thinning his lips. Susanna gawked, stupefied, staring numbly at the beautiful being in front of her. Nuada turned his head slowly, his white hair spilling over his shoulder, marking her with feigned interest. He watched the color rise in her neck, meeting her ample cheeks at his declaration. "Why are you here?"

Annoyed by his foul nature, she steeled, "I'm here, not by choice," she clarified, "but I've come here…to…to ask why you won't speak to your sister. Princess Nuala is perfectly sweet and gracious. And she is, by far, the only person in this whole damn place who actually cares about you."

Nuada flinched, his eyes closing in on her, the fiery orbs piercing into her. Tight lipped, he assailed her with a dangerous look that made her quiver nervously. She fought the 'fight or flight' instincts that prickled her skin and caused her to stand more erect as she faced an outright volatile and treacherous being. Her breath came out in a strangled choke as he took a step to her but he veered away to place the gleaming silver spear on a rack.

"It is not your business." He finally said after an endless pause.

"Maybe, maybe not, but she loves Abraham and he loves her," she said with insistence, "and if their happiness reflects on your approval—"

Nuada let out a hiss, his head snapping to her, eyes cold. "I will never grant my consent to such a vile union. Nor will your pathetic attempt to sway me into thinking light on the subject prevail." Nuada said bitingly. "She has turned her back on our people by her abominable relations with that creature."

Susanna attacked, folding her arms across her chest. "That creature you speak of is my friend. And you can't blame her for wanting to make the most of a situation you placed her in."

"I did nothing," he said grimly.

"Oh, yes you did. Because of your cruel indifference…hatred…to put it plainly…you've thrust her out of a world she's always known and practically have her institutionalized here like a criminal. It's no wonder she's turned to the first person who makes her smile." Susanna took a step forward. "Abe is good to her," she said in defense of her friend.

"I do not approve."

"Well, it's not your call to make, so, just deal with it." Tossing her head, she swiveled on her toes, turning to leave; Nuada's voice suddenly propelled into her back.

"Did really come here to lecture me on my relationship with my sister or to come to terms with your own?"

Aghast, Susanna spun around in time to see him closing the distance between them. He shadowed her with slow but earnest steps. She swallowed a lump in her throat. Awareness flooded into every cell in her body, and she started to tremble, fighting the intense heat that was spreading like a wildfire.

She struggled to keep her voice level. "I—I don't know what you're talking about?"

Nuada's lip curled upward. She blinked in alarm. It was the first time she ever saw him smile and it released a flurry of butterflies in the pit of her belly. It was a faint little gleam of joy, but disturbingly it made him appear more malicious.

Like a lion stalking its prey, Nuada walked the distance in slow, strides. Susanna slowly became unglued; she backed away, coming into contact with the cold metal of the double doors. Her heart thundered in her chest. Nuada stood just a breath away. His very presence assaulted every fiber of her being. His essence devoured her whole. Inhaling deeply, she was unexpectedly rocked to the core. He had the most intoxicating smell. It was like breathing in the richness of the earth after a torrential rain. She couldn't help but drown herself in it. Tortured by waves of confusing emotion slamming into her all at once, she tried to pull her sanity back together; failing undoubtedly. She stiffened as he stretched out a hand and began to trace the curve of her neck with the tips of his fingers.

"Don't touch me," she seethed, coming unglued. She moved to flee, remembering all too well the incident in the laboratory. His hand fused about her throat, making her freeze like a mannequin. Unsure by what he would do next, her heart started beating rapidly.

Nuada eased his body closer. His bare chest pressed into the fullness of her breast as he blocked her retreat. He nuzzled her face with his tip of his nose, his voice coming out low and husky. "You forget I can see into your very being. Your aura unveils all your secrets."

Color and heat exploded into Susanna's face. He could read her like an open book…literally. She thought she had a handle on her emotions; had them reined and under control. But all the while, Prince Nuada was exposed to every detail of her private thoughts. He had discovered her closely guarded secret. She found him appealing.

"I have no secrets." She snapped in an effort to steer him off, while forcing her heartbeat to return to a normal rate. Angrily, she smacked her hands into his chest, trying her best effort to push him off. It did little good. The elf was a brick wall.

Nuada chuckled amused by her petty attempt to escape. Emboldened, his forefinger began to trace the length of her throat, caressing the vein in her neck that was now throbbing wildly. He heard the subtle change in her breathing and noticed how her cerulean pupils dilated. He soon became aware of an alluring odor. A potent, feminine heat. He smirked maliciously.

"Your vile human form reeks with undisclosed wants and desires," he said in a hush tone. He held her captive, stroking his fingers into her hair, letting the silky strands to slip through his fingers. Susanna quivered, unnerved by his gentleness. She wanted so much to push his hand away but couldn't gather the strength to do so.

He studied her carefully. Every action bespoke her desire to flee. But for reasons beyond his comprehension he couldn't let her go…not yet…not until he was able to break this foolish hold she had over. After the other night she left him, his thoughts were locked on her. His attempts to rid her presence from his mind by rigorous training to the point of dead exhaustion had been futile. She perplexed him. Angered him. And a temptation so great it began to gnaw at him.

Suzanna flinched as Nuada lifted his hand to brush his thumb over her lips. She felt her shoulder blades dig into the hard steel as she tried to place as much space between them as possible. Time slowed. He bent low, his face close; his lips almost touching her mouth. Her heart stopped. Suzanna believed at that moment she would fall dead from fainting. A siren screamed in her eardrums. Red lights circled and the pair jumped apart. She whispered a silent prayer in thanksgiving. What was about to occur between her and the prince could upset the time space continuum. He had nearly kissed her.

There he stood watching, debating, striving to make sense of what had just transpired. What he had done? He withdrew, positioning himself a good foot away. His aversion to humans, he was beguiled by the pretty blond before him; standing flushed, totally aroused, and extremely livid all at once. Amazing. These humans are emotional bunch.

"You are free to run and hide?" He said, in a mocking tone, waving her away.

Rage burned in her eyes. Furious, Susanna felt her powers humming through her blood like a freight train. She might've killed him if her ears didn't suddenly pain her as a loud siren wailed in the airways. Susanna jumped almost ten feet into the air. She backed away from the doors to where the prince stood as they looked about the chamber now swirling in blue lights. To Susanna's horrifying dismay, she recognized the signals bouncing off the walls.

Nuada was already several paces away by the time she managed to gather her wits. His back was to her. She sensed his confusion, most importantly his malice. It was the security alarms.

Seconds later a monotone voice came on the speaker: Attention! Attention! This is a Level 5 emergency! For security reasons the facility is now on lockdown! Attention! Attention! This is a Level 5 emergency! For security reasons the facility is now on lockdown!

"Oohh, shit!" Susanna cried, running to the door to override the security. Her fingers worked the buttons madly.

"What is happening?" Nuada demanded, stalking to her.

She scowled at him as if his question was stupid. "Are you deaf? We are in lockdown."

"What does this mean?"

She whirled around glowering at the prince when all efforts to open the doors failed. Her arms went out. "It means one of those damn critters must've gotten out of its cell! Which means, to ensure it doesn't escape and do terrible harm to the public, we are in lockdown until it is caught."

"How long will this take?"

"Does it look like I know? I'm telekinetic not psychic like Abe…aww fuck!" She covered her face with her hand as a terrible realization came into clarity.

"What vexes you?"

She lowered her hands, eyes dark as she looked at him. "We're stuck together!"

Nuada cocked his head. "Stuck together?"

"Yes! Stuck together. I can't leave."

"What do you mean you cannot leave?"

"I can't open the door."

"You entered here with absolutely no trouble," he stated.

"That's was before the security system went haywire. For my safety…and yours," she muttered. "No one is allowed in or out of their quarters until the containment crew has captured whatever it is that's escape."

"Are you not a part of this…this…crew as you call it?"

"Not my area of expertise," Susanna retreating to the large double door, sliding the ground and kicking out her legs in an unladylike manner.

Nuada gawked at her action. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Getting comfortable," she replied. "This may take a while sometimes days, especially if it's small and hiding in the AC ducts.

"No," he started shaking his head. "You will not stay here!"

"And where do you suppose I go?"

"Anywhere!"

Susanna temperament fizzled into a riotous anger. "Don't yell at me! I'm not some elf handmaiden who's frightened of your shadow."

Raging, Nuada stomped to her. She made a sound and worked an eyebrow upwards and then flexed her hand to lift his spear off the rack. It soared in the air stopping right in front of him. His expression became dangerous to point where she knew he was hungering for her blood. She caused the spear to dance and spin. "A family heirloom is it? I see you treasure this above all other things.

"I've been practicing pretty boy, and I'm getting back to my old strength again. If you so much as feel on me like you did before and I'll nail you and your little toy to the wall. You got that?"

She received no answer but a curt nod. Nuada took a step to take his weapon and she shook her head. "Tsk, tsk," she sucked her teeth, shaking her head, as she nailed the spear in the highest point of the ceiling. "Let's keep it as insurance and last time I checked elves don't fly."

"You'll pay for this outrage," he said through his teeth.

"Perhaps," she shrugged, her eyes glistening. "But not tonight, and the last thing I want to do is deal with you, so why don't you just you disappear."

Susanna watched him storm away like an ill-mannered child. Rolling her eyes, she came to the conclusion that it was going to be a long and difficult night. Even worse was the Prince's in-depth perception of her sexual attraction. A misconception she was going to clarify very soon. She would be a liar to say there wasn't something appealing about him, but his cruelty shinned brighter that the evening star.